The surprise demotion of one of Carolina's highest-paid players
to nickel back Sunday took a new twist when Brown indicated
Wednesday Gamble was disciplined for missing practice last week.
Fox and the team described his absence on the injury report only as
''personal.''

Brown said he didn't know if Gamble walked out of practice or
never hit the field on Nov. 24 as the Panthers (1-10) slog through
a terrible season.

''It was one of the things where he made an out-of-mind decision
and he came back the next day and apologized. That's been the end
of it since,'' said Brown without elaborating. ''He's been out
there working every day and getting better and getting ready for
the Seahawks.''

Gamble declined to speak to reporters on Wednesday and didn't
talk after Sunday's loss to Cleveland, in which he played about 30
snaps as an extra defensive back on passing downs.

Captain Munnerlyn, a 2009 seventh-round pick, started in his
place and returned an interception 37 yards for Carolina's first
defensive touchdown of the season.

''It was kind of awkward being out there,'' Munnerlyn said. ''I
was like, 'Man, Gam, he's coming in on nickel.' But it's football.
Sometimes it happens like that.''

Gamble, Carolina's fourth-most tenured player behind kicker John
Kasay, receiver Steve Smith and left tackle Jordan Gross, signed a
six-year, $53 million contract late in the 2008 season and has long
been considered one of the better cornerbacks in the league.
Gamble's 24 interceptions are one shy of Eric Davis' team
record.

But Fox said he took out Gamble briefly against Baltimore on
Nov. 21 after he was beaten on T.J. Houshmandzadeh's 56-yard TD
catch. Fox has insisted the decision to bench Gamble a week later
the Browns was strictly performance-related. Gamble has gone 14
games without an interception.

''He was struggling a little bit and we made the change,'' he
said.

The 27-year-old Gamble was limited in practice on Wednesday with
a sore hamstring. Munnerlyn was slowed by a shoulder injury but
said he'd play Sunday against Seattle.

Fox declined to say who will start.

''I don't announce starting lineups until game day,'' Fox
said.

Munnerlyn said Gamble helped him during Sunday's 24-23 loss in
which he had six tackles.

''He didn't have an attitude or nothing,'' Munnerlyn said.
''Every time I made a play or I messed up he'd come talk to me and
help me out so I really praise him for that.''

Munnerlyn said he was getting treatment for his injured shoulder
the day Gamble missed practice last week and didn't know the reason
for his absence. Brown indicated Gamble is back in the good graces
of his teammates.

''He was disciplined for his actions and that was the end of
it,'' Brown said. ''It's not anything where you hold a grudge
against the guy or say, 'He's a quitter. He backed out on the
team.' He was back at practice the next day working hard.''

But it's the first sign of potential unrest as the Panthers have
the NFL's worst record and Fox is working in the last year of his
contract. The Panthers went 12-4 and won the NFC South just two
seasons ago before cutting payroll and embarking on a youth moment
that left Gamble one of the oldest remaining players.

''A guy got frustrated and just overreacted. It happens in
life,'' Brown said. ''One thing for sure about Gam is I know he'll
learn from it. He'll bounce back and he'll continue to play well
and produce for us.''

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